Fender or ibanez or gibson, import or buy local?

[Dav_C]

Just to share my view.

1) Checking sustain

Pick the G string and try to feel the vibration on the guitar body and neck.
On Ibanez I can't feel it that much, neither did Les Paul. But on a Strat I can totally feel it; and with different wood, the effect is slightly different.
With a good amp, this kind of sustain can also be heard over the amp.
2) Checking Neck

Press down 1st and the last fret, see that the gap from string on 8th fret is about 1/4 mm. Then check action at 17th fret should be about 2.4mm Then check string buzz. About the shape I'm used to V-shaped, up to individual. Then the fingerboard has various diameter, 9.5" is in the middle. Fast player might prefer 12" and have a lower action.

3) Pickup

Check the pickup, and see whether balanced. gap from pole to string should be 2.4mm - 3.6mm

4) Machines

Locking tuner? LSR nut? 5 springs still attached? set screw to adjust the bridge height still OK or worn out?

 

[Godspeed64]

On Ibanez I can't feel it that much, neither did Les Paul. But on a Strat I can totally feel it

LP lacking sustain? You sure dude? Lol..

 

[Dav_C]

Pluck open string B, then feel the body and neck, see whether you feel any difference?

I mean I'm using Clapton strat with the tremolo blocked with a piece of wood.

 

[shioks76]

umm only way to test sustain would be to turn on the amp.
strum a note and count how long the note lasts b4 it dies off.

Because of the tremolo theres little chance of the strat winning a lp seriously. The tremolo springs tend to dampen the string vibration causing string vibration to die off faster hence the shorter sustain. But for your case where thee tremolo is blocked all bets are off.

What you're talking about how much the body vibrates is resonance. Which may or may not make a diff tone wise. Its all on your individual taste. Another gd test is to hear the guitar without plugging in and test the guitar on an amp. Better still if u can compare the tone with another guitar that u are familiar with. Because guitars can sound very different on different amps.

 

[Dav_C]

Not just blocked tremolo, the 6 screws are tightened flat, 5 springs attached and that bracket screw in all the way for max tention (meaning even without wood block, the tremolo still doesn't work).